Movie Musings: Disney and More

June Foray: From Granny to Grandmother Fa

June Lucille Forer/June Foray was born on September 18th, 1917 in Springfield, Massachusetts. She began to voice over work at just 12 years of age, lending her voice to a local radio drama. By the age of 15, she began doing voice-over work regularly. After graduating High School two years later, she moved to Los Angeles with her family in the hopes of continuing her acting career, and was fortunately was able to do so. In 1955, she took on one of the roles that garnered her immortality throughout the voice-over industry: Granny on Looney Tunes (1930-1969), succeeding Bea Benaderet in the role, who would go on to provide the voice of Betty Rubble on The Flintstones (1960-1966). Ironically Foray tried out for Betty Rubble as well. Did you also happen to know that June Foray has an intriguing history with the Walt Disney Studios as well?

Prior to voicing Granny, Foray was hired by Disney to voice Lucifer the Cat in Cinderella (1950). She voiced one of the Mermaids and Squaw the female Indian in Peter Pan (1953), and the characters of Wheezy and the Toon Hag in Who Framed Roger Rabbit (1988). She also provided the speaking voice of Grandmother Fa in Mulan (1998) and the direct-to-video sequel Mulan 2 (2004). (Marni Nixon provided the singing voice of the part.) Foray also lent her voice to numerous shorts, television shows, and video games produced by Disney and her voice can also be heard in the Pirates of the Caribbean Attraction at Walt Disney World and Disneyland.

In addition to each of her Disney roles and “Granny,” June Foray is also known for voicing Rocky on The Rocky and Bullwinkle Show (1959-1964), Cindy Lou Who in How the Grinch Stole Christmas (1966), and Jokey Smurf and Mrs. Sourberry on The Smurfs (1981-1990). (“The Smurfs,” reunited her with “Cinderella/Peter Pan,” co-star/friend Lucille Bliss who voiced Smurfette on “The Smurfs.” Bliss voiced Anastasia the stepsister in “Cinderella,” and another one of the Mermaids in “Peter Pan.”) Foray was also a voice-acting mentor/close friend of frequent Disney voice-over artist, Corey Burton (who has voiced characters like Mole in Atlantis: The Lost Empire (2001) and Captain Hook in the theatrical sequel, Return to Neverland (2002)).

June Foray is a true icon in the voice-over industry. She will forever be remembered as the voices of Granny and Rocky the Squirrel, but her Disney roles will help keep her legacy alive as well.